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Labor Supports the
Drive for Maternity Reform
Nicola Roxon MP
Shadow Minister for Health
Federal Labor
congratulates midwife Janie Nottingham on her 'Drive for Maternity
Reform'.
Ms Nottingham is using
her 'Drive for maternity Reform' to raise awareness of the need for
maternity reform, covering issues such as:
-
postnatal
depression
-
the high rate of
caesarean births in Australia
-
the gap in health
outcomes and services for non-Indigenous mothers and babies
-
poor rates of
breastfeeding
-
the lack of birth
care options in many places in Australia
Federal Labor is strongly committed to improving
maternity services:
-
we understand how important it is that women
not only have a range of birthing services available in their
communities, but also that women are provided with information
about the options open to them;
-
we appreciate the valuable role played by
midwives in the delivery of maternal and child care services
-
we recognise that midwives often do not
receive the professional recognition they deserve, and that they
are often restricted in their ability to practise as primary
carers and provide continuity of care to women.
Labor believes that a range of initiatives are
required to improve the delivery of maternal and child health
services. Federal Labor is
committed to:
-
Improving health outcomes for Indigenous mums
and their babies, through our $260 million Indigenous early
childhood package, which has a particular focus on greater
investment in child and maternal health services including home
visiting;
-
Improving health services, including
maternity services, for rural communities through the next
Australian Health Care Agreements;
-
Reviewing the Medicare Schedule to include
midwives in the provision of maternity care and to facilitate
the expansion of midwife-led care
-
Developing a national maternity services plan
to ensure national coordination of maternal services.
Federal Labor is also strongly committed to
promoting the value of breastfeeding and improving breastfeeding
rates amongst mothers. According to
last week's House of Representatives Committee on Health and Ageing
report, breastfeeding rates in Australia fall well short of the
levels recommended by the World Health Organisation and the National
Health and Medical Research Council. Labor will closely examine the
recommendations of this report and work with state and territory
governments to implement them.
Labor understands that providing quality care for
mothers and newborns is the key to giving children the best start in
life and midwives can play a central role in ensuring this is
provided.
28 September 2007
Disclaimer
The
information contained on this website is of a general nature and is
designed for educational purposes only. The information is not meant
to replace the recommendations or advise of your midwife or doctor.
Please consult your midwife or doctor regarding your health care.
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